Motorized parallel bar device manufactured in various lengths

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a motorized parallel bar device, having a pair of parallel bars. Each parallel bar is made in sections. A platform supports the bars and the platform is made in corresponding sections. A pair of vertically telescoping columns are mounted on each section to raise and lower the parallel bars, and telescoping drive shafts are on each platform section for moving the parallel bars horizontally. A reversable motor is mounted to one of the platform sections, and transmission shafts extend along the platform to transmit power to the telescoping columns and telescoping drive shafts. The transmission shafts are also made in sections corresponding to the platform sections and sleeves couple the shaft sections together and the parallel bar sections are coupled together.

United States Patent Wieland [54] MOTORIZED PARALLEL BAR DEVICE MANUFACTURED IN VARIOUS LENGTHS 72 Inventor: Roman o. Wieland, A. John Weber, Clair A. Bearileld and Gordon E. Nelson, all of Valley, N. Dak.

[73] Assignee: Tri W-G, Inc., Valley City, N. Dak.

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1968 [21] App]. No.: 769,643

[52] US. Cl ..272/63 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..272/63, 62

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,971 4/1957 Beme ..272/62 2,808,873 10/1957 Snapp ..272/62 [451 Oct. 10, 1972 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorney-Robert E. Kleve ABSTRACT The invention comprises a motorized parallel bar device, having a pair of parallel bars. Each parallel bar is made in sections. A platform supports the bars and the platform is made in corresponding sections. A pair of vertically telescoping columns are mounted on each section to raise and lower the parallel bars, and telescoping drive shafts are on each platform section for moving the parallel bars horizontally. A reversable motor is mounted to one of the platform sections, and transmission shafts extend along the platform to transmit power to the telescoping columns and telescoping drive shafts. The transmission shafts are also made in sections corresponding to the platform sections and sleeves couple the shaft sections together and the parallel bar sections are coupled together.

4 Claims; 14 PFW' PAHEP ATTORNEY INVENTORS ROMAN G. WIELAND A. JOHN WEBER CLAlR A. BEARFIELD GORDON E. NELSON SHEET 2 BF 4 PATENTEDncr 10 m2 PATENT ED 10 I972 3.6 97 O66 sum 3 or 4 v INVENTORS ROMAN e. WIELAND A. JOHN WEBER CLAIR A. BEARFIELD GORDO? ENELSON ATTORNEY PATENTEU 10 3,697,066

' saw u or 4 I I I I: I F9 FIG .8. .INVENTORS ROMAN G. WIELAND A.JOHN WEBER CLAIR A. BEARFIELD L GORDON E. NELSON FIG.IO. ATTORNEY This invention relates to therapy treatment devices, more particularly, the invention relates to hospital therapy treatment, parallel bar devices.

This invention is also related to my co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 640,062, filed, May 22, 1967, entitled Parallel Bar Device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel parallel bar device for therapy treatment which may be manufactured in various sizes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel, motorized parallel bar device which can be made in sections to various lengths with a minimum of cost and expense.

-It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel, motorized parallel bar device which can be made in sections for easier installation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel, motorized parallel bar device which can be manufactured in various, sectional length with a minimum of duplication of motorized equipment.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motorized parallel bar invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lefthand portion of the motorized parallel bar invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged, side elevational view of the righthand portion of the motorized, parallel bar invention, and a continuation of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top plan view of the lefthand portion of the motorized parallel bar invention.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged, top plan view of the righthand portion of the motorized parallel bar invention and it is a continuation of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the motors and drive transmissions of the middle platform section shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cut-away, side view of the motors and drive transmission and reversing mechanism taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side, elevational, view of the reversing mechanism for horizontal drive.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the reversing mechanism for the horizontal drive.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view of the intermediate drive portion of the parallel bar device.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the parallel bar invention taken along line 10 10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the parallel bar invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings; in FIG. I, the motorized, parallel bar invention is generally illustrated having a pair of parallel bars 21 and 22, made in three sections, 21', 21", 21", and 22', 22", 22" respectively. The parallel bars 21 and 22 extend across a platform 23, which platform 23 is also made in three sections, a lefthand platform section 23', a middle platform section 23", and a righthand platform section 23.

The motorized parallel bar invention 20 is illustrated in a side, elevational view in FIG. 2 and 2A, FIG. 2A being a continuation of FIG. 2; likewise, the invention 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A in a top plan view taken together, FIG. 3A being a continuation of FIG. 3.

Platform section 23' has a pair of telescoping columns 24 and 24' for raising and lowering the parallel bar sections 21' and 22' respectively. Platform section 23' also has a pair of telescoping drive shafts 25 and 25' for moving the parallel bar sections 21' and 22 horizontally.

Platform section 23" also has a pair of telescoping columns 26 and 26 for raising and lowering parallel bar sections 21" and 22" respectively. Platform section 23" also has a pair of telescoping drive shafts 27 and 27' for driving the parallel bar sections 21" and 22" horizontally.

Platform'section 23" also has a pair of telescoping columns 28 and 28' for raising and lowering the parallel bar sections 21" and 22" respectively. Platform section 23" also has a pair of telescoping drive shafts 29 and 29' for the horizontal movement of the parallel bar sections 21" and 22".

MECHANICAL DRIVE FOR TELESCOPING THE PARALLEL BARS VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY.

Platform section 23" has a pair of reversable motors 30 and 31. The reversable motor 30 powers the telescoping columns 24 and 24', 26, 26', 28, 28' for raising and lowering the parallel bars 21 and 22 through a power transmission shaft 32.

The reversable motor 31 powers the telescoping drive shafts 25, 25', 27, 27', 29, 29 for moving the parallel bars 21 and 22 horizontally through a power transmission shaft 33.

The motor 30 has a motor shaft 30' which has a toothed gear 34 which drives an endless link chain 35, and the endless link chain 35 drives a toothed gear 36 which is fixed to shaft section 32' of the transmission shaft 32 and rotates the entire transmission shaft 32 which is composed of three sections 32', 32", 32", which are rotatively mounted to platform sections 23', 23", 23" respectively.

Likewise the motor 31 has a motor shaft 31 which drives a toothed gear 37 which dirves an endless link chain 38, and the link chain 38 drives a toothed gear 39 fixed to shaft section 33" of shaft 33 to rotate the en tire shaft 33. The shaft 33 is composed of three sections, 33' and 33", and 33" which are rotatively mounted to platform sections 23', 23", and 23" respectively.

The shafts 32 and 33 are covered by a rectangular housing which extends over all three sections of the shafts. The housing 90 is separated into three sections 90, 90", and 90". Each section is mounted their respective platform sections 23', 23", and 23". The housing section 90" is made higher than its other two sections toenclose the motors 30 and 31.

The shaft sections 32' and 32" are compiled together by a cylindrical sleeve 40 which has screws 41 threaded unto the sleeve and unto ends 42 and 42' of sections32' and 32" to lock the shaft sections together axially so that they will rotate in synchronism. In the same manner, shaft sections 32" and 32" are coupled together in a cylindrical sleeve 40 and screws which are threaded unto the sleeve and shaft ends 42 and 42' of shaft sections 32" and 32" and fix them together so that the entire shaft 32 will rotate in unison. In the same manner, shaft sections 33 and 33" are coupled and locked together by cylindrical sleeves 40 and screws 41, and shaft sections 33" and 33" are coupled and locked together by sleeve 40 and screws 41.

In the left platform section 23', mitered, toothed gears 43 and 43' are fixed axially to the transmission shaft sections 32 and 33' respectively to drive the pair of mitered gears 44 and 44' respectively. Gears 44 and 44' are fixed axially to shafts 45 and 45' and shaft 45 and 45 in turn are fixed axially and drive toothed gears 46 and 46'. The toothed gears 46 and 46' drive endless link chains 47 and 47'.

In the same manner, in the middle platform section 23", mitered gears 48 and 48' are fixed axially to transmission shaft sections 32" and 33" respectively and gears 48 and 48' drive a pair of mitered gears 49 and 49' respectively. Mitered gears 49 and 49' are fixed axially to shaft 50 and 50' and shafts 50 and 50 are fixed axially to toothed gears 51 and 51' whereby gears 49 and 49' drive gears 51 and 51'. Gears 51 and 51' in turn drive endless link chains 52 and 52'.

Similarly, in the right platform section 23", mitered gears 53 and 53' are fixed axially to transmission shaft sections 32" and 33" respectively and gears 53 and 53' drive a pair of mitered gears 54 and 54'. Mitered gears 54 and 54' are fixed axially to shafts 55 and 55' respectively, which in turn are fixed axially to toothed gears 56 and 56', whereby, gears 54 and 54' rotate gears 56 and 56. Gears 56 and 56 engage and drive endless link chains 57 and 57' respectively.

Endless link chains 47, 52, 57 drive telescoping columns 24, 24, 26, 26', 28, 28' respectively. Each of the telescoping columns 24, 24', 26, 26', 28, 28' have an inner sleeve 58 which raises and lowers relative to the outer sleeve 58' which outer sleeve is fixed to its respective platform section, with the inner sleeve 58 is a disc 59 fixed thereto with a center threaded bore adapted to receive a threaded shaft 60, and threaded shaft 60 is rotatively mounted to its respective platform section and has a toothed gear 61 fixed to the bottom of shaft 60 which gear 61 engages it respective link chain either 47, 52, or 57. Also, the shaft 60 has a disc 59' fixed to the top which is slideably mounted in the inner sleeve 58 and guides and maintains the shaft 60 in axial alignment with the telescoping column. At the upper end of each of the inner sleeves 58 is a horizontal cylinder 62 fixed thereto with a sliding piston 63 slideably mounted for horizontal movement in the cylinder, the outer end 63 of the piston 63 has an upward, lateral bend and the respective parallel bar sections are fixed to their respective bent end portion 63' of the respective piston 63.

The endless link chain 47 lies in a horizontal plane and travels about the toothed gear 46 and 60 of the columns 24 and 24' to rotate gear 60 to raise and lower the parallel bar sections 21 and 22' simultaneously. Likewise, endless link chain 52 travels about toothed gears 51 and 60 of columns 26 and 26' to raise and lower parallel bar sections 21 and 22' simultaneously;

and in the same manner, the endless link chain 57 travels about toothed gears 56 and 60 to raise and lower parallel bar sections simultaneously. The gears 46, 51, 56 and 60 and link chains 47, 52, and 57 all in the same horizontal plane.

The activation of motor 30 rotates shaft 32 and through its mitered gear connection in each shaft section drives gears 46, 51, and 56 simultaneously thereby driving endless link chains 47, 52, and 57 simultaneously so that the rotation of shaft 32 simultaneously raises and lowers the parallel bar sections 21, 21 21", 22', 22", 22" in unison with one another with each parallel bar section moving in unison with the next.

Endless link chains 47', 52' and 57 drive the telescoping drive shafts 25, 25', 27, 27', 29, 29 respectively. Each of the telescoping drive shafts 25, 25', 27, 27', 29, 29 have a lower square tube 64 and with a square shaft 64' slideably mounted therein whereby, the rotation of tube 64 rotates the shaft 64'. The square tube 64 is rotatively mounted to its respective platform section. At the upper end of shaft 64' is a gear 65 fixed axially thereto, with the end gear 65 rotatively mounted in a housing 66. The housing 66 is fixed to the cylinder 62 and each sliding piston 63 has a toothed rack portion 67 extending along it side. The cylinder 62 has a slot 62' cut through its side providing access to the rack portion enabling gear 65 to engage the rack portion 67. The toothed gear 65 engages the rack portion 67 to drive the piston along the cylinder 62. At the lower end of each tube 64 is a shaft 68 with a gear 70 mounted to the bottom thereof. The telescoping drive shafts, columns, and pistons have the same structure as already described in my earlier co-pending application previously identified.

The rotation of the gear 70 rotates the square tube 64. The square shaft 64' and the gear 65 and the rotation of the gear 65 being in engagement with the rack portion 67 causes the piston 63 to move inwardly and outwardly of the cylinder 62 thereby moving the parallel bars inwardly and outwardly.

Endless link chains 47', 52' and 57' all lie in the same horizontal plane with link chains 47', 52' each having an idler gear also lying in the same plane; and link chain 57' having a pair of idler gears 101 and 101' also lying in the same plane. Endless link chain 47' travels about toothed gear 46 and idler gear 100 and gears 70 of the telescoping shafts 25, 25' to drive the telescoping shafts in unison with one another. Likewise, link chain 52' travels about toothed gears 51' and an idler gear 100 and the pair of gears 70 of the telescoping shafts 27 and 27' to drive the shafts in unison. in the same manner, link chain 57 travels about toothed gear 56' and a pair of idler gears 101, 101 and the gears 70 of the telescoping shafts 29, 29 to drive the shafts in unison with one another to thereby move the parallel bar sections of parallel bars 21 and 22 inwardly toward one another and outwardly away from one another in unison with one another.

The endless link chains 47', 52, 57 are mechanically connected to shafts sections 33', 33", 33" by their mitered gear connection whereby, the powering of motor 31 rotates the shaft 33 which rotates each of the endless chains in unison.

The square rods 64' slide upward and downward in each of the square tubs 64 of the telescoping shafts to adjust as the parallel bars are moved upward and downward. Reversing mechanisms 71 and 71 for reversing the motors 30, 31 are mounted to platform section 23". The reversing mechanism 71 has pair of upright bars 72, 72' which are mounted to the platform 23", above bores 73 for rotatively supporting the shaft 32, shaft section 32" forms threaded screw along portion 74 from bar 72 to bar 72', a collar 75 has a threaded bore and is threaded onto screw portion 74, a stem 76 is fixed to the bottom of collar 75, extends from outer ends 78 of bar 72 to outer end 78' of bar 72'. A lateral bar 79 is fixed to the bottom of stem 76 and rides channel 78 to guide collar 75 so when shaft 32 rotates, it causes collar 75 to move forwardly or rearwardly along the screw portion 74.

A pair of limit switches 80 and 81 are mounted to the bars 72 and 72', and the collar 75 has a projecting lug 75' which engages one or the other limit switch when the collar has moved along the screw portion by the rotation of the shaft until it is adjacent one or the other of the bars 72 and 72'.

The reversing mechanism 71' for shaft 33 is identical to the reversing mechanism 71, except that the bars 72 and 72' are spaced closer to one another and consequently, the threaded screw portion 74 of shaft section 33" is shorter from mechanism 71' and the bars 72 and 72 are spaced closer and the screw portion 74 is shorter because the length of the horizontal travel of the parrelle bar has been made shorter than the vertical travel. However, the length of the threaded portions 74 and the corresponding space between the bors 72 and 72' of both reversing mechanism may vary depending upon the desired requirements of the device. The reversing mechanism 71 also has limit switches 80' and 81'.

The hollow tubular parallel bar sections 21, 21 and 21" are connected together at their inner ends by plugs 91 which are press fitted into the adjacent ends of the parallel bar sections. In the same manner, hollow, tubular bar sections 22', 22", 22" are connected together by metal, cylindrical plugs 91 also press fitted into the adjacent ends of the tubular sections.

OPERATION tion is as follows: The operator will first close the start switches 83 and 84 as shown in FIG. 11, and the switches 80, 81, 80', 81' will be in their normally closed position. If the operator desires to raise the parallel bars, he will then move switches 83, 83', and 83" to the left in unison causing the motor 30 to drive in one direction, and the drive will be oriented so that this causes the parallel bars to be raised. The parallel bars will continue to rise until the operator moves the switches 83, 83', 83" back to neutral or until the lugs 75 of the reversing mechanism 71 engages the limit switch 80, causing it to open and this turns off the motor. The lug 75' will not engage switch 80 until the parallel bars have reached their upper limit in travel.

If the parallel bars reach their upper limit and engage and open switch 80, turning off the motor 30 and the operator desires to lower the parallel bars, he will move switches 83, 83', and 83" to the right to engage the contacts on their right side when viewed from FIG. 8. This reverses the motor 30 and consequently will cause the parallel bars to be lowered until switches 83, 83', and 83" are moved back to neutral or the lug engages switches 81 which turns off the motor 30 stopping the downward movement of the parallel bars. If the operator moves the switches 83, 83, and 83" back to their left position so as to engage their left contact when viewed from FIG. 11, the motor 30 will be reversed again and will rotate and cause the parallel bars to be raised again.

The switches and 81 have spring returns so that when the lug 75 has moved away from either switch 80 or 81, they will spring back to their closed position.

If the operator desires to horizontally retract the parallel bars, he will move switches 84, 84', and 84" to the activate the motor 31 in one direction and the drive will be so oriented that this directly causes the parallel bars to retract, the parallel bar will continue to retract until they reach the limit of the travel at which time the lugs 75' of the reversing mechanism 71 will engage its switch 80' which turns off the motor, or unless the operator moves switches 84, 84', and 84" in their left position until switch 80' is opened and he then desires to telescope the parallel bars, he will move switches 84, 84', and 84" to the right, contacting postion when viewed from FIG. 11 which reverses the motor 31 causing it to move and project the parallel bars 21 and 22 simultaneously toward one another, they will continue to move toward one another until they reach lug 75' and it engages switch 81 and turns off the motor. If the operator desires to retract the parallel bars against, he will simply move the switches back to their left contacting position as viewed from FIG. 1 1.

The motor 30 and 31 are of a conventional type which can be reversed by reversing the leads 85 and 86 to its winding 87 and in the case of motor 31, by reversing it leads 88 and 89 to its windings 89'.

Thus it will be seen that a novel, motorized parallel bar device has been provided which can be made in carious sizes with a minimum of cost and expense.

In the parallel invention illustrated in the drawings,.it is contemplated that each platform section will be approximately 6 feet long. Consequently, the parallel bar device illustrated will be approximately 18 feet long with the three platform sections 23', 23", and 23".

In the event it is desired to produce a 12 foot parallel bar device, this may be easily accomplished by simply removing the middle section 23" and the parallel bar sections 21' and 21" will be coupled together by plugs 91 and the transmission shafts 32' and 32" and 33' and 33" respectively will be coupled together by sleeves 40.

Also if it is desired to make a 24 foot unit, a second middle section 23" can be added to one or the other side of the middle section 23" between the first middle section and one or the other of the end sections, and the sections will be coupled together by the plugs 91 and the sleeves 40.

Also, the platform sections will be coupled together in their various lengths by the mounting plates 94.

It will be obvious that various changes and departures may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and accordingly it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or disclosed in the drawings, but only as set forth in the appended claims wherein:

What is claimed is:

l. A motorized parallel bar device for therapy treatment comprising a pair of parallel bars with each bar made in a plurality of sections, a platform for supporting said bars, said platform being made in corresponding sections, a pair of column means mounted to each platform section for raising and lowering said parallel bars, a pair of telescoping drive shafts mounted to each platform section for moving said parallel bars horizontally, a reversable motor means mounted to at least one of said platform sections, transmission means on each platform section transmitting power from said motor means to said columns and drive shafts of each of said platform sections, means coupling said transmission means on each platform section together, means coupling said parallel bar sections together.

2. A motorized parallel bar device for therapy treatment comprising a pair of parallel bars with each bar made in a plurality of sections, a platform for supporting said bars, said platform being made in corresponding sections, a pair of telescoping columns on each platform section for raising and lowering said parallel bars,

vertically adjustable drive means on each platform section for powering said parallel bars horizontally, reversable motor means mounted to at least one of said platform sections, transmission means in each platform section transmitting power from said motor means to said columns and adjustable drive means on each platform section, means coupling said transmission means on each platform section together, means coupling said parallel bars sections together.

3. A parallel bar device according to claim 2, wherein said motor means comprises a pair of reversable motors with one motor powering said telesoping columns and the other motor powering said adjustable drive means.

4. A parallel bar device according to claim 2, wherein said transmission means comprises a transmission drive shaft means made in sections corresponding to said platform sections, with said means coupling said transmission means comprising sleeve means coupling said transmission means in each section together. 

1. A motorized parallel bar device for therapy treatment comprising a pair of parallel bars with each bar made in a plurality of sections, a platform for supporting said bars, said platform being made in corresponding sections, a pair of column means mounted to each platform section for raising and lowering said parallel bars, a pair of telescoping drive shafts mounted to each platform section for moving said parallel bars horizontally, a reversable motor means mounted to at least one of said platform sections, transmission means on each platform section transmitting power from said motor means to said columns and drive shafts of each of said platform sections, means coupling said transmission means on each platform section together, means coupling said parallel bar sections together.
 2. A motorized parallel bar device for therapy treatment comprising a pair of parallel bars with each bar made in a plurality of sections, a platform for supporting said bars, said platform being made in corresponding sections, a pair of telescoping columns on each platform section for raising and lowering said parallel bars, vertically adjustable drive means on each platform section for powering said parallel bars horizontally, reversable motor means mounted to at least one of said platform sections, transmission means in each platform section transmitting power from said motor means to said columns and adjustable drive means on each platform section, means coupling said transmission means on each platform section together, means coupling said parallel bars sections together.
 3. A parallel bar device according to claim 2, wherein said motor means comprises a pair of reversable motors with one motor powering said telesoping columns and the other motor powering sAid adjustable drive means.
 4. A parallel bar device according to claim 2, wherein said transmission means comprises a transmission drive shaft means made in sections corresponding to said platform sections, with said means coupling said transmission means comprising sleeve means coupling said transmission means in each section together. 